What’s on in Northumberland, week ending Thursday, April 26

Published:11:03Thursday 19 April 2012

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LIVE MUSIC

Tonight: Rothbury Roots. Singer/songwriter Michael Weston King performs. His material ranges from political protest songs to country. At the Queen’s Head Hotel, Rothbury. 7.30pm. £8. For tickets, call the Queen’s Head on 01669 620470 to book in advance. More information, call Andy on 01665 576012 or visit www.rothburyroots.com

Saturday, April 21: Dan Whitehouse. Whitehouse pens music steeped in timeless roots traditions, laced with lyrical twists that narrate modern life. At the LUSH Acoustic night at the Tanners Arms, Alnwick. 8.30pm. Free.

Monday, April 23: Northumberland Traditional Music session. Live music at the Ship Inn, Low Newton. 8pm. Free. More information, contact Jack or Pam Daws on 01665 722835.

Wednesday, April 25: Open Mic Night. Hosted by We Steal Flyers. At The Trap, North Broomhill. 8.30pm. Free.

Thursday, April 26: Rothbury Roots. Folk/Americana acoustic/blues duo State Of The Union perform. At the Queen’s Head Hotel, Rothbury. 7.30pm. £10. For tickets, call the Queen’s Head on 01669 620470 to book in advance. More information, call Andy on 01665 576012 or visit www.rothburyroots.com

Tonight: Presentation. Author and distinguished railway modeller, Dave Dunn, shows the Aln Valley Railway Society a collection of photographs from various sources on the subject of The Border Counties Line. In the Pottergate Centre, Alnwick. Note the change of venue. 7pm for 7.30pm. Visitors, members and their guests welcome for a small donation towards meeting costs. Refreshments available from 7pm. More information, contact Roger Jermy on 01665 606168.

Tonight: Warkworth and District Flower Club. Practical Evening led by the committee. Bring flowers and foliage of your choice. Oasis will be available on the night. At the Memorial Hall, Warkworth. 7.30pm.

Tonight: Fiona Shaw on Love Poetry. See above.

Today, and Thursday, April 26: Cragside Another Side. Step back in time to 1880 as Cragside House comes to life. Journey through a day in the house and watch Lord Armstrong’s servants as they go about their daily chores. See Lord Armstrong and Joseph Swan discussing the electric light bulb and Lady Armstrong planning her dinner menu with the cook. At Cragside. 1pm–5pm. Booking not needed, normal admission applies. More information, contact 01669 620333.

Tomorrow: Knit 2gether. Local knitting group for experienced and beginners alike. Bring needles and wool. Spares available for those who need them. The group will meet every Friday. At Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick. 1pm–3.30pm. £1.50 per session, includes tea/coffee and biscuits. Anyone interested, call Dianne on 01665 510603 or the museum on 01665 605847.

Tomorrow, and Saturday, April 21: Aurora Night. Learn the scientific explanations for the aurora, how to see them and tour the Kielder Observatory. At Kielder Water & Forest Park. 8pm to 11pm. Adult: £10, Concession: £8, Family: £27. Contact 07805 638469.

Saturday, April 21: Morning Deer Safari. A dawn trip into the forest for a fantastic opportunity to spot roe deers when they are most active. Learn more about deer and their management from one of the Forestry Commission’s Rangers. At Kielder Water & Forest Park. 6am to 8am. £16 per person (including breakfast). Contact 01434 250209.

Saturday, April 21: Farmers’ Market. At Cragside. Tasty seasonal produce and high quality crafts from local farmers and producers. 10am-3pm. Free entry. Dogs welcome on leads.

Saturday, April 21: Mugen Taiko Dojo. Experience this exciting performance by Mugen Taiko Dojo, a theatrical Japanese drumming group, as they kick-start the Cherry Blossom Festival. At the Alnwick Garden. Normal admission applies.

Saturday, April 21: Budding Artists Programme. Japanese-themed activities and drumming workshops. Join in with these Japanese-themed activities in celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival. At the Alnwick Garden. Normal admission applies.

Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22: St George’s Weekend. A fun event for all the family, meet their knight in shining armour, try on helmets and paint your own shields. At Wallington. 11am to 4pm. Normal admission charges apply and small charge for some activities. Contact 01670 773600.

Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22: Broomstick Training. Master your broomstick and take your first flight with the resident wizards. At Alnwick Castle. Normal admission applies.

Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22: Survival training UK course. These courses, led by James Reay, are designed to be fun and safe, while passing on the knowledge to live comfortably in the wilderness. At Kielder Water and Forest Park. 24 Hour Session £160.00 per person. Eight-hour session £85 per person. Contact 07712 172768.

Sunday, April 22: Car Boot Sale. At Alnwick Town Football Club. 10am–2pm. Free admission. Refreshments and clubhouse bar open. Sellers arrive 9am. Cars £10, vans £12. Information and bookings to Alan on 01665 720395. The boot sale will take place every Sunday to raise money for the club.

Sunday, April 22: Stained Glass Sun Catcher Workshop. A day to learn how to make a stained glass sun catcher to take home & hang in your window. Suitable for beginners. At Longframlington Village Hall. 10am to 4pm. £24 per person (plus materials). Contact 01669 650215.

Sunday April 22: Foraging with Wild Harmony. Join a wild food expert on a special guided walk on the Wallington Estate looking out for seasonal wild food and learning how to use it. At Wallington. Age 10+ 10am to 4pm. Adult £15, child £7.50 and family (2 adults and 2 children) £35. Booking essential on 01670 773963.

Monday, April 23: Stories, Rhymes and Crafts. An afternoon of stories, rhymes and crafts for babies and toddlers. For children aged six-months to three-years, and their parents or carers. At Alnwick Library. 2pm–2.45pm. Free. More information, contact 01665 602689.

Monday, April 23: World Book Night Festival of Reading: poet and novelist Valerie Laws reads from her 3rd poetry collection ‘All That Lives’ - inspired by her writing residencies in pathology & neuroscience institutes. At Alnwick Library. 6pm-7pm. £3 to include glass of wine.

Tuesday, April 24: The Painting of a Hat and Ruffles – Suky the Sequel. Uncover the story of the infamous portrait of Sir Walter Calverley Blackett’s niece Suky Trevelyan as we bring the saga up-to-date and reveal the latest information about this fascinating portrait. The talk will be followed by a delicious light lunch in the Clocktower Café. 10am to 1pm. £20 per person (includes coffee and lunch). Booking essential on 01670 773600.

Wednesday, April 25: Words across Northumberland. Join Alison Weir in The Alnwick Garden to hear about her experiences of being a top-selling author. Tickets £6, £4 conc, available from admissions or by calling 01434 652477.

Thursday, April 26: Coffee and Crayons. Meet other parents and children in a relaxed free craft session suitable for the under-fives before Sing With Me, where you can play instruments, sing songs, catch bubbles, chase ribbons and make new friends. At the Alnwick Garden. Sing With Me is £2 per child, including juice and a biscuit.

Amble Photographic Group exhibition. At the town council office, at The Quayside, Amble. Until April 30. For opening times, email carolmckay177@btinter net.com or call 01665 710177.

Bailiffgate Museum, Alnwick, 01665 605847. New exhibition – Bailiffgate 10: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. This exhibition is a captivating reminiscence of the first ten years of the Bailiffgate Museum and the museum’s history as a Catholic church. The exhibition showcases a variety of themes from previous exhibitions as it prepares for the next ten years of exhibitions and projects. Until April 29. Open daily, 10am–4pm. Adults £2.50, conc £2, U16s free, family (2 adults/1 concession) £6.70, family (two adults/one concession) £7.60.

Cragside, Rothbury. 01669 620333. The Servants’ Side. See the real faces of the Cragside servants and find out about the untold stories of life in service. Discover the romance of James McDougle and see his original footman’s livery uniform. Learn the Victorian recipe for brown bread ice cream, served to Cragside’s Royal guests. With close up photographs of original parts of the servants’ tower you’ll get a real glimpse behind closed doors. Until Sunday, November 4. Free, normal admission charges apply.

The Aln Gift Shop and Gallery, 57 Northumberland Street, Alnmouth, 01665 830245. New original coastal work by Joanne Wishart, as well as original work and prints by Emma Holliday. Open Mondays–Saturdays, 10am–5pm, Sundays 11am–4.30pm.

The Design Room Art Gallery, 79 High Street, Wooler, NE71 6BD. Featured artist Paresh Nrshinga and new originals by Ken Spencer. Open Mondays–Saturdays, 10am–4pm. Other times by appointment. Call 07921 436427 or visit www.thedesignroomartgallery.co.uk

The Old School Gallery, Alnmouth, 01665 830600, www.theoldschoolgallery.co.uk. Original paintings by John Fieldhouse. Until Sunday, April 22. All welcome. Visit website for further details. Open Wednesdays to Sundays, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Woodhorn Museum and Northumberland Archives, QEII Country Park, Ashington, 01670 528080. A truly out-of-this-world experience is guaranteed for all visitors to Invasion, the new exhibition at Woodhorn. Costumes, props and even robots from favourite TV and sci-fi film blockbusters have been brought together for this thrilling show. Until September 3. £3.95 adult, £3.50 conc, £2.95 Children and £12.50 (2 + 2) family ticket. Visit www.experiencewoodhorn.com for opening times and more information.

Alnwick Castle. 01665 510777. Open daily, 10am–6pm, last admission 4.15pm. State Rooms open 11am–5pm, last admission 4.30pm. Visit www.alnwickcastle.com for admission details, including information about the new Unlocked ticket.

Alnwick Garden. 01665 511350. Open daily, 10am–6pm. Visit www.alnwickgarden.com for admission details, including information about the new Unlocked ticket.

Chillingham Castle. 01668 215359. Open daily, except for Saturdays when it is closed. Noon–5pm, last admission 4.30pm. £8.50, conc £7.50, children £4, U5s free, family £21.

Chillingham Wild Cattle Park. Open Mondays–Fridays, with tours every hour from 10am with the last tour at 4pm, and Sundays, with tours at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Closed Saturdays. £6, £4 conc, £2 children, £14 family.

Heatherslaw Light Railway. 01890 820244. Open daily. Train times – from Heatherslaw, every hour on the hour from 11am to 3pm. From Etal, every hour on the half-hour from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Return journey prices, £6.50, children £4, U5s £2, babies free, senior citizens £5.50. Specials at Easter and October. Railway shop and ticket office open from 10am.

RNLI Grace Darling Museum, Radcliffe Road, Bamburgh, 01668 214910. Open daily 10am–5pm. Free entry. There will also be an exhibition, called Grace’s Environment, running throughout the Easter school holidays.